Preventing Heat Exchanger Fouling with ATCS
Fouling is caused due to the minerals present in cooling water such as calcium and magnesium that can form a precipitate and get deposited on the heat transfer surfaces. The cooling water systems can also be affected by the biological growth of slime or algae especially on the heat transfer areas. All of these foulants happen to cause a reduction in the heat transfer efficiency, even when the heat exchangers happens to be the best designed ones and can result in its failure over the shortest possible time. To deal with fouling, ATCS can be used. It consists of a sponge-ball type automatic tube cleaning system that works because of the movement of the elastomeric balls right through the heat exchanger tubes. The balls are bigger than the tube diameter, and often prevent the accumulation of biofilm, scale, silt, or other foulants. During the process, the sponge balls are injected into the cooling water inlet lines which then move around the circular tubes. The balls are m...